EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL

PLAN GUIDE FOR

SMALL PROJECTS IN SCHUYLKILLCOUNTY

REVISED 03/24/2008

Schuylkill Conservation District

1206 Ag Center Drive

Pottsville, PA17901

Telephone (570) 622-3742 ext. 5

Fax (888) 900-8621

* Revised by the Schuylkill Conservation District Board of Directors on October 17, 2007

* 03/24/2008 - Revised Fee Schedule Change Adopted by the Schuylkill Conservation District Board on

January 15, 2008.
INTRODUCTION

PA Code Title 25. Environmental Protection Chapter 102 requires persons proposing or conducting earth disturbance activities to develop, implement, and maintain Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize the potential for accelerated erosion and sedimentation.

The BMPs shall be undertaken to protect, maintain, reclaim, and restore water quality and the existing and designated uses of waters of this Commonwealth.

The implementation and maintenance of Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs are required to minimize the potential for accelerated erosion and sedimentation.According to Chapter 102 regulations, any earth disturbance activity that will result in a total earth disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more requires that a written Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (E&SC Plan) must be developed.

The E&SC Plan Guide for Small Projects in SchuylkillCounty was designed to help residents and landowners design E&SC Plans without the help of a professional engineer, surveyor, or landscape architect. Earth moving contractors are familiar with E&SC Plans and may be of assistance during the development of the plan.

DETERMINING IF THIS GUIDE IS RIGHT FOR YOUR PROJECT

The following questions will determine if you are eligible to use the E&SC Plan Guide for Small Projects in SchuylkillCounty. Following each question are the acceptable parameters that will allow you to use the Small Projects Guide. Please contact the Schuylkill Conservation District at 1206 Ag Center Drive, Pottsville, PA17901 or (570) 622-3742 ext. 5 with any questions.

  1. What are you building on your land?

The maximum size of the building is approximately 75’ x 50’, the maximum length of a driveway is 200’, and the maximum width of a driveway is 15’.

You may use the E&SC Plan Guide for Small Projects in SchuylkillCounty if you are building a house, garage, or non-commercial use building such as a pole building or shed.

  1. How large will your disturbance be?

The total disturbance over the life of the project must be less than one acre. The disturbance must include house, septic, well, and other improvements. One acre = 43,560 square feet or a disturbance of approximately 208’ x 208’.

Please include 30-40 feet of additional disturbance around improvements. For example, multiply the standard septic size x 3, the driveway length x 2, and the house size x 3 to calculate the size of the disturbed area.

  1. What will be the steepest slope on the property?

The maximum allowable slope is 15%. Soils in the Schuylkill County Soil Survey that meet the slope guidelines have a three-letter abbreviation that ends in A, B or C. Residential projects on D, E and F slopes may apply if a property survey reveals actual slopes of less than 16% in areas of the proposed earth disturbance.

  1. Are you going to be crossing a stream, an existing swale (ditch), or wetlands with a driveway or any utilities?

If you will be crossing a stream or an existing swale (ditch) with a driveway or any utilities, a pipe will need to be installed during the construction of the driveway. A permit may be required from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Please contact the DEP at (570) 826-2511.

If there are wetlands on the property, and the total disturbance will include the wetlands,you are not eligible to use this Guide. A wetland delineation will need to be conducted by a person trained in wetland delineation.An engineering/consulting firm/landscape architect should be contacted.

  1. Where is the project located?

Soil Survey Location – Please use the Soil Survey of Schuylkill County (available from the Schuylkill Conservation District or or the Schuylkill Parcel Locator (available at to locate your project and the types of soils within the disturbance area.

Please see the hydric soils list located in Appendix B. If any of these soils are located within the disturbance area, you are not eligible to use this guide.

If your answers to the above questions are within those parameters, you are eligible to use the E&SC Plan Guide for Small Projects. Please note that other federal, state, and local permits may be required.

The following pages include the application and other required information to complete an E&SC Plan for your project. Your earthmoving contractor should be contacted to assist with the E&SC Plan development or a consultant/engineer may be contacted if desired.

If your E&SC Plan must be submitted to the Schuylkill Conservation District for review, please mail completed applications (Pages 4-15) for approval to:

Schuylkill Conservation District

1206 Ag Center Drive

Pottsville, PA17901

If your E&SC Plan must be developed and does not require an application to be submitted to the Schuylkill Conservation District for approval, please complete pages 4-15.

A copy of the approved E&SC Plan is required on site at all times until final stabilization is achieved.

If you have any questions please contact the Schuylkill Conservation District at (570) 622-3742 ext 5.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Stormwater is the water from precipitation such as rain, sleet, or melting snow, and stormwater management involves the control of “run off” from precipitation. “Run off” increases as more development occurs because impervious surfaces (examples include roofs and driveways, if paved) also increase.

Stormwater management is the responsibility of municipal governments (townships and boroughs) and individual property owners. Please contact you local municipality to find out if it has stormwater management ordinances in place.

Stormwater management BMPs can help to reduce stormwater runoff. Please see Appendix C for several BMPs that can be used to control stormwater runoff.

The Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual is being developed under guidance from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The manual provides technical assistance on methods to prevent, reduce, and minimize the impacts of stormwater runoff. The manual is currently available at:

The Stormwater Management Handbook was developed by the Pocono Northeast Resource Conservation and Development Council. The handbook is currently available at:

1206 AG Center Drive, Pottsville, PA17901-8732 - (570) 622-3742 ext 5

Fax: (888) 900-8621

E-Mail:

Website:

***This application is for use with theEROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN GUIDE FOR SMALL PROJECTS IN SCHUYLKILLCOUNTYonly***

Project Name______

Name of Homeowner/Landowner ______

Current Address ______

PO Box, Street, Apt. #

______

CityStateZip Code

Telephone Number ( ) ______Fax Number ( ) ______

Name of Person/Company Submitting Plan ______

Address ______

PO Box, Street, Apt. #

______

CityStateZip Code

Telephone Number ( ) ______Fax Number ( ) ______

Person Responsible for E&S on Site ______

Telephone Number ( ) ______Fax Number ( ) ______

Desciption of Project ______

Total Project Area ______

Disturbed Area ______

Municipality ______

Name of Nearest Watercouse______

Distance to Nearest Watercourse ______

The Schuylkill Conservation District application review fee for a single lot residential small project E&SC Plan is $200.00. Please make check payable to: Schuylkill Conservation District

Please retain multiple copies of your E&SC Plan for your file and for the developer/excavator of your project.

A copy of the approved E&SC Plan is required on site at all times until final stabilization is achieved.

______

Signature of Applicant

______Print Applicant’s Name

NARRATIVE – E&SC PLAN DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

Directions to Project Site: ______

Location Map

Please provide a copy of a portion of a 7 ½ minute USGS quadrangle map (available at the Schuylkill Conservation District Office or at The name of the USGS quadrangle map must be included on the location map.

General Information

Estimated Startup Date of Project ______

Estimated Completion Date of Project ______

Soil Information

Please provide soil types located on project site. For each soil type please provide the soil limitations and resolutions for the site construction. Soil maps and information are available in the Soil Survey of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania (copies are available at the Schuylkill Conservation District), at or on the parcel locator at Please see Tables 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 16 in the Soil Survey of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania for limitations and resolutions.

Example:

Soil Type: BeB (Berks shaly silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes)

Soil Limitation: Table 8 lawns and landscaping: severe: small stones

Soil Resolution: small stones may need to be removed during site grading to help establish grass/lawn areas

Soil Types ______

______

Soil Limitations ______

______

Soil Resolutions ______

______

Please check that the soil types listed above are not included on the hydric soils list located in Appendix B. If any of these soils are located within the disturbance area, a wetland delineation will be needed, and you will not be eligible to use this guide.

Construction Sequence

All E&SC Plans must include a construction sequence. Effort should be made to minimize the amount of earth to be disturbed and to limit the time the earth is disturbed. Below is a standard construction sequence that may be used.If the standard construction sequence will not be followed, please submit a revised construction sequence with the application.

STANDARD CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

  1. Contact the Schuylkill Conservation District (570) 622-3742 ext. 5 and PA One Call (1-800-242-1776) seven to ten days prior to construction.
  2. Install rock construction entrance using AASHTO #1 Rock.
  3. Install silt fence, 12-inch diameter compost sock, or compost berm 12” in height. The compost sock may be placed just outside the area of disturbance.
  4. Construct driveway and stabilize with hard, durable stone. If necessary, install driveway cross pipe (smallest allowable pipe is 18” diameter) and stabilize the entrance and exit of the pipe immediately with permanent turf re-enforcement matting or a rock apron.The pipe must be covered with the minimum coverage recommended by the manufacturer - usually 12”.Please follow manufacturer’s installation procedures and attach the specifications to the plan. If necessary, install waterbars or grade breaks as required by the recommended spacing in the Permanent Best Management Practices Section (pages11-13).Installation of waterbars or grade breaks depends on the length and slope of the driveway.
  5. Construct sediment trap/stormwater basin and stabilize immediately.
  6. Construct all remaining site improvements and stabilize disturbed areas with lime, fertilizer, seed, and mulch.
  7. After final stabilization* requirements have been achieved, temporary erosion and sediment BMPs must be removed.
  8. If silt fence was used for the project: Remove sediment build up from behind the fence. Remove silt fence and immediately stabilize disturbed area created by removing the fence.
  9. If a compost sock or berm was used for the project: The compost sock or berm may remain in place or the material from the sock or berm may be either spread out on the property or used in the sediment trap for a planting area.

*Final stabilization – An area shall be considered to have achieved final stabilization when it has a minimum uniform 70% perennial vegetative cover or other permanent non-vegetative cover with a density sufficient to resist accelerated surface erosion.

Temporary Best Management Practices

Standard Construction Detail for Rock Construction Entrance

* GEOTEXTILE – Class II Type B)

MAINTENANCE: Rock Construction Entrance thickness shall be constantly maintained to the specified dimensions by adding rock. Clean stone should always be visible on the surface. A stockpile shall be maintained on site for this purpose. At the end of each construction day, all sediment deposited on paved roadways shall be removed and returned to the construction site.

Standard Construction Details for Filter Fabric Fence

18” High 30” High

NOTES:

*Stakes spaced @ 8’ maximum. Use 2"x 2" wood or equivalent steel stakes.

Filter Fabric Fence must be placed at level existing grade. Both ends of the barrier must be extended at least 8 feet up slope at 45 degrees to the main barrier alignment.

Sediment must be removed when accumulations reach 1/2 the above-ground height of the fence.

Any section of Filter Fabric Fence which has been undermined or topped must be immediately replaced.

Maximum Slope Lengths for Filter Fabric Fence

Slope - Percent / Maximum Slope Length (ft) Above Fence
18" High Fence / 30" High Fence
2 (or less) / 150 / 500
5 / 100 / 250
10 / 50 / 150
15 / 35 / 100

INSTALLATION:

  1. A 6” wide and 6” deep trench will be excavated with little, if any, disturbance downslope of the trench. The silt fence must be installed at existing level grade. No disturbance shall occur downslope of the fence.
  2. Support stakes must be driven 18” minimum below the existing ground surface. 12” of the fabric must be below the existing ground surface.
  3. Silt fence should be installed parallel to existing contour.

MAINTENANCE: Any necessary repair will be made immediately. If any breaks occur, replace the entire row of silt fence immediately.

Standard Construction Detail for Compost Filter Berm

NOTE: The compost filter berm is not designed to be placed in a concentrated flow area (drainage path). The berm shall be installed parallel to existing contours down slope of any earth disturbance. Sediment shall be removed when it reaches ½ height of the berm.

Standard Construction Detail for Compost Filter Sock

NOTE: The compost filter sock is not designed to be placed in a concentrated flow area (drainage path). The filter sock shall be installed parallel to existing contours down slope of any earth disturbance. Sediment shall be removed when it reaches ½ height of the sock. Do not drive over the filter sock; and prevent the filter sock from being ripped or torn.

Sediment Trap / StormwaterBasin Construction

PERMANENT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

SOIL AMENDMENTS

The Schuylkill Conservation District recommends that the property owner has a Soil Test completed. The Soil Test will be used to obtain proper lime and fertilizer application rates. Please include the results as part of the E&SC Plan. Soil Test Kits are available at the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office. You may reach the office at (570) 622-4225 or 1202 Ag Center Drive, Pottsville, PA17901.

LIME AND FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS

Lime – Agricultural Grade Limestone

The majority of the soils within the county are acidic and infertile. Adding lime to the soil is vital to establish final stabilization of disturbed areas. If a Soil Test is not completed, apply agricultural grade lime at 4 tons/acre or 0.184 lbs/square foot.

Fertilizer – Commercial 10-20-20

The numbers 10-20-20 relate to the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that will be applied to the soil. Fertilizer increases the growth of both the plant and its roots. If a Soil Test is not completed, apply 950 lbs/acre or 0.21 lbs/square foot.

SEEDING REQUIREMENTS

Permanent Seed Mixture *

Mixture A: Kentucky Bluegrass @ 50 lbs. per acre

Redtop @ 5 lbs. per acre

Perennial Ryegrass @ 35 lbs. per acre

Annual Ryegrass @ 10 lbs. per acre

Mixture B:Pennlawn-Fine Fescue @ 65 lbs. per acre

Redtop @ 5 lbs. per acre

Perennial Ryegrass @ 35 lbs. per acre

Annual Ryegrass @ 10 lbs. per acre

* This seed mixture applies to slopes gentler than 3:1. Modified seeding specifications are available from the Schuylkill Conservation District for slopes greater than 3:1.

Recommended seeding times:

March 15 – June 15August 15 – October 15

MULCHING

All disturbed areas that are seeded should be mulched at a rate of 3 tons/acre of straw mulch. Straw mulch shall be applied in long strands, not chopped or finely broken. Disturbed earth should not be seen under the mulch.

If the construction sequence is completed during a non-recommended seeding time (see above), the entire disturbed area should be temporarily mulched at 3 tons/acre of straw mulch until the recommended seeding time.

TEMPORARY SWALE/DIVERSION CHANNEL

DIMENSIONS:

D = Depth 1.5’ (includes ½’ freeboard)

B = Bottom width 4’

* Lining: Grass and/or a temporary or permanent liner such as North American Green S75 – Single Net Straw Blanket or P300 Permanent Turf Reinforcement Mat (please see manufacturer’s website at

SWALE CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS

  1. All temporary swales/diversion channels shall have uninterrupted positive grade to an outlet.
  2. Runoff collected from a disturbed area shall not be conveyed via a temporary swale/diversion channel.
  3. Diverted runoff from an undisturbed area shall outlet directly into an undisturbed stabilized area at non-erosive velocity.
  4. All trees, brush, stumps, obstructions, and other objectionable material shall be removed and disposed of so as not to interfere with the proper functioning of the swale/diversion channel.
  5. The swale/diversion channel shall be excavated or shaped to line, grade, and cross-section as required to meet the criteria specified herein and be free of bank projections or other irregularities, which will impede normal flow.
  6. Fills shall be compacted by earthmoving equipment.
  7. All soil removed and not needed on construction shall be placed so that it will not interfere with the functioning of the swale/diversion channel.
  8. All swales shall be immediately stabilized upon completion of construction. An erosion control blanket shall be installed on top of the seed and mulch to prevent the “washing” of the swale.
  9. Maximum drainage area is 5 acres.
  10. Maximum slope of swale 8.0%.
  11. Periodic inspections and maintenance must be provided.

ROCK (RIPRAP) APRON OUTLET PROTECTION

DIMENSIONS:

Aiw: 12’ (Match with grades from outlet of swale)

Al:10’ Length

Atw: 16’ Outlet end

(Please see next page for construction specifications.)

CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS

  1. Rip-rap rock aprons are required to reduce the outlet velocity of a swale to 3.0 fps or less.Please consult with a professional if a velocity of 3.0 fps or less can not be achieved.
  2. R-3 Rock has a maximum diameter of 6” and a minimum diameter of 2”.
  3. The placement of a layer of geotextile (Class II Type B) prior to installing the rock lining is required.
  4. Outlets must discharge to a stable non-erosive outlet.

STANDARD CONSTRUCTION DETAIL FOR A WATERBAR

Design:

  1. Waterbars should be installed across the entire driveway on all slopes greater than 5%.
  2. Waterbars should be constructed at a slope of 2% and discharge to a well vegetated area.
  3. Waterbars should be oriented so that the discharge does not flow back onto the driveway.
  4. Obstructions, such as straw bales, silt fence, and/or rock filters, should not be placed in any waterbars.

Waterbar Spacing (for permanent waterbars)